Memory is not recognized by the PC

Hello there.

My issue is as follows: I have a PC with a MicroStar MS-6547 motherboard, and a Pentium 4 1.7 GHz processor. The thing is that I bought a 256MB (DDR 184 pins)memory card, and put it in the 2nd slot, and the PC just starts, makes the memory revision, doesn't recognize the added memory and continues to get Windows running. I already put the new memory card in the 1st slot and the old memory card in the second slot and got the same results, so that means that the new memory card is compatible or the correct type one. I already tried just letting the first slot occupied by any of the cards, and runs fine.

Is there anything I cand do to fix this thing. I already tried to clean up the slot with contact cleaner, but nothing seems to help.

It's suppossed that the motherboard can have up to 3GB RAM, so it's not a memory overload issue.
I will appreciate a lot your help.

>> so it's not a memory overload issue
In actually i think it is, but not they way you think it is. I believe that you have run out of banks on you memory controller. Motherboards have a certain number of banks that allows the memory to opperate. Some motherboards have 1,2,or 4 banks per memory slot , not meaning that each slot is limited. If you use 2 bank memory in the first slot on a 1per slot motherboard then that only allows 1 bank for the second and third slot. If you use 2 bank memory in the second slot, not all the memory will show up. This i beleive is the problem you are experiencing. The only way to fix it is to make sure your memory is compatible by using a site like www.crucial.com to buy memory.

Enter system BIOS and record your settings. Follow instructions in mainboard manual to clear CMOS. Reenter system BIOS and restore prior settings, save and exit. This mainboard has 3 memory slots, ans six memory channels, so any combination of single or dual bank memory should would fine. Clearing the CMOS should allow the BIOS to recognize and save the new memory configuration. T

it probalbaly ain't the cmos it is the board i think the second slot is probabaly is bad or disabled there might be a little black or blue usally black on the board and it might be the enabler or disabler jumper